YOU'RE ALL MINE

YOU’RE ALL MINE - ch 17

(the magic of Midnight)

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Midnight wanted to jump, run, climb, screech – but held back. She was sure Mia would feel the same but one look at the girls face, had Midnight motionless with wonder “What is going on in her mind? I can’t read it? Is she blocking me? If she is, why? I’m supposed to be her familiar, for heaven’s sake!”

They drove home from the O’Malley house in silence. That had Midnight a bit more worried. She knew why they stopped and was also aware why she wasn’t allowed into the house. Evie O’Malley was allergic to animals and there were times when her medications fell a bit short of relief. Besides, Mia promised they wouldn’t stay long and Mia always keeps her promises.

^ ^

Morena closed the pantry door as Brian and Mia walked in. She studied her daughter’s face and then began to worry.

“So, how did the driving test go? You don’t look as happy as I thought you would. You didn’t fail it did you?”

Mia looked distractedly at the direction of her mother’s voice, then heard her father grunt.

“Oh, yeah, mom, I passed. Not one problem.”

She was about to walk away when Morena asked, “Brian, remember what we spoke about last night? Did you have time to take care of it?”

He looked from Morena to his daughter and smiled. “As a matter of fact, yes, we did and it’s all taken care of. Isn’t it, Mia?”

Mia plopped down on the nearest kitchen chair and placed her cheeks upon her fisted hands.

“Mia?” Morena sat next to her. “What’s going on? Is something wrong?”

Brian laughed and walked to the refrigerator where he retrieved the pitcher of iced tea. He set the pitcher on the table, then walked to the cupbard for three glasses. Upon his return to the table, he leaned against his daughter and said, “Mia. It’s fine. You can talk about it. Believe me, if anyone will understand, it will be your mom.”

“Mia?” Morena asked quietly almost as if she were afraid of what she might hear – that is until Mia burst out with a loud, “Oh, mom! He’s drop-dead gorgeous! And to think he lives so close by. How did I never see him before? He has the most beautiful red hair and his eyes! Oh mom, his eyes are to die for! Mom …”

Before she could continue, Morena covered her mouth with her hand so Mia would see her wide, amused smile. Behind her hand, she said, “Is it safe to assume you’ve finally met Francis, the young hellion on wheels?”

Midnight almost jumped on the table, a place where she wasn’t allowed and screeched, “Is this what your mood is all about? You met a boy? A boy? Mia, what are you thinking?”

Mia finally gave out a small laugh and said, “Midnight, yes, I met Francis and he is the most beautiful boy I’ve ever met.”

She heard Midnight’s sarcastic reply, “Oh, right, Mia. At your tender age of sixteen, you’ve met plenty of boys! What was I thinking?”

Morena smiled, leaned and kissed her daughter’s cheek and said, “Let’s take one step at a time. Step one: you passed your driving test. Correct?”

Mia replied, “Yes, mom. Thanks to you and dad teaching me to drive the truck around the garden, driving dad’s car for the test was a piece of cake.”

Morena smiled. “Now for step two. Clearly, now, you stopped at the O’Malley house. Did you get the issue with Francis’ racing on his bike resolved?”

“Mom, he apologized and his mom explained why he’s always rushing around. Did you know he plans on going to college to become a pharmacist? Just like his dad? Between working at the pharmacy, helping out at home, going to school! Well, mom, he’s as busy as I am. Probably busier since part of what he does for his dad is deliver medications. People need their medications and he can’t just brush it off, now, can he? Now that I understand his dilemma, I guess I can be more tolerant of his behavior.”

Brian’s smile grew a bid wider as he said, “And it also helps that he’s so, what you did you say, Mia? ‘He’s drop-dead gorgeous’?”

Mia’s face turned red and she muttered, “Well, he really IS cute.”

Morena glanced at Brian and they both smiled but didn’t say a word.

Finally, Mia drank her iced tea, then asked, “Mom, I was over the moon when I passed my driver’s test but getting to see Francis, well, it threw me off. I thought he’d look like some dumb jerk but now?”

“Now, what, my girl. What has you so sad about meeting such a cute boy?”

“Mom, when we were at his house, he hardly spoke to me. Then he raced out the door like he couldn’t leave fast enough.”

Morena, studying her daughter’s face, knew there was more, so she asked, “Okay, Mia, what’s weighing on your mind? I can sense something troubling you. Talk to us.”

Midnight stood on her hind legs and place her front paws on Mia’s leg. “Mia, your mom’s right. You need to talk to us.”

Unconsciencly, Mia reached down a gently rubbed the cat’s head. “Mom, dad said Francis will be eighteen in a few months. Except for a person he almost runs over several times a month, he probably doesn’t even know I exist and even if he had a clue, he’ll be leaving for college. Mom, he’s just so darn cute! I might never see him again.”

Morena signed and thought, “Ah, her first major crush. Oh my! Here we go!”